Concrete elevator and distributor



Nov. 27, 1923 1,475,253 H. A. TRESTER CONCRETE ELEVATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR Filed April 29, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 27, 1923 H. A. TRESTER CONCRETE ELEVATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR 'Filed April 29, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 27 1923 1,475,253

H A. TRESTER CONCRETE ELEVATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR Filed April 29, 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

ATENT orrlcn.

HERAULT A. TRESTER, 0F MILYVAUKEE;\VISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO METAL FOR-MS COR- POR-ATION, OF MILVIAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION.

CONCRETE ELEVATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR.

Application filed April 29,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERAULT A. TRns'rnR, a citizen of the United ltfilwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete Elevators and Distributors, of which the following is a specification.

In the erection of concrete structures today there is a class of construction which is primarily known as circular work, having to do primarily with the building of chimneys, towers, grain. elevators, coal pockets, silos, and round water tanks and reservoirs of a similar nature, ,etc. These kinds of structures are now very frequently built by the use of forms adapted to be set up temporarily to enable the pouring of the concrete into the same, the forms being sectional and detachable, whereby to permit of their use progressively upwards as the circular structure is being erected. The said forms may be of different types, but largely comprise inner and outer sectional shells between which the concrete is poured or flowed, the shells being held in place properly in relation to a central mast or support by any suitable means, that usually availed of comprising bracing radius bars or the like which connect the form shells with the central support, and a typi-' cal arrangement of which parts is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings forming a part hereof.

Necessarily, when it is borne in mind that the circular structures above mentioned are often built hundreds of feet in the air,

it will be appreciated that the proposition as the mixed aggregates are received from a mixer or source of supply, for conveying, these aggregates to a central point from which they may be distributed in a very convenient and efficient manner to any part of what may be characterized as the cir-.

cular %tates, residing at 1921. Serial No. 465,403.

mold constituted by the forms. While my invention is adapted primarily for use in building structures such as outlined above, still certain features thereof n'iight find ready utility eitlfer separately or in combination. for performing work not exclusively such, as hereinbefore particularly referred to, but frequently required to be done in connection with vari ous non-circular kinds of concrete construction which are so universally practiced at the present date.

My apparatus comprises two essential units employed in cooperation and including what I may term a hoisting and conveying. unit, and a distributing unit, the two units working together in an advantageous manner through the interaction of parts thereof so that the concrete aggregates may be hoisted vertically, conveyed in an approximately horizontal direction, or at an angle to the vertical movement, caused to be automatically dumped into a central receiving hopper, and thence conveyed from said hopper by a distributing chute, to the various points where it is desired to flow said aggregates into the mold or other place where they are to be received for the purposes of the particular erection.

My invention involves among other things special means whereby the hoisting bucket which receives the concrete at the lower level may be automatically engaged by a carrier and conveyed in a lateral direction, means whereby said bucket may cooperate with the central mast or some other suitable device to effect automatic dumping thereof, a special construction of distribut-' I ing hopper to receive the dumped aggregates and combined with a chute for their distribution, the last two parts capable of revolving about a suitable axis to obtain a wide range of distribution, together with means to normalize the dumping instrumentalities for the hoisting bucket after the latter has returned to its position where it receives a fresh load of aggregates tofbe again raised, conveyed, and properly distributed.

There is illustrated a preferred embodiment of this invention in the accompanying drawings, 1n wh1ch:-

Figure 1 shOWS my apparatus as when Figure 2 is a side elevation, the dotted lines showing how the dumping bucket moves into cooperation with the central mast, to thereby efiect the dumping;

Figure 3 is a sort of diagrammatic illustration of the way in which the grab hooks are caused to shift in an angular manner to move from positions wherein they are inactive in relation to the hoisting bucket, to positions engaging the bail of said bucket to establish a connection between the trolley or carrier and said bucket preliminarily to the lateral conveying movement of the carrier; V

Figure 4 is a side view showing the hoist ing bucket in its position of rest at the base, of the work where it receives the aggregates to be raised and conveyed to the central receiving and distributing hopper;

Figure 5 is a front view of the hopper, partially broken away, but showing the bottom door normalizing and latch devices; also the trip means for the latter;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view ot the upper portion of the runway which is sup ported upon the framework at the upper end of the circular structure and forms, upon which runway the carrier operates, the view illustrating the adjustability of this runway for making it oi different lengths to correspond with the ditferent diameters of structures in connection with which the apparatus may be employed.

Figure 7 is a-l ragmentary view of one ofthe main braces.

In setting torth my invention I shall refer first to Figure 1 wherein there are illustrated the circular forms which constitute inner and outer shells 1 and 2 respectively, of what may be called the circular mold. The forms or shells 1 and 2 are held in place ina manner well known in the art by means including the central mast 3 and the radial bars of braces a, and connections between the shells, not shown. The mast?) is pro-, vided at intervals in its length with horizontal openings through which ladder bars 5 may be received, and at a certain suitable point upon the mast one of these-ladder bars 5 is utilized to hold in place a sleeve 6 by which the central distributinghopper 7 may be held at a proper adjustment upon the mast 3, and with which the derrick generally designated at B is connected.

. The hopper 7 is preferably of round form p and is equipped with a central bearing 8 which receives the mast 3 and permits of a c revolving movement of the hopper upon the mast, braces -9 connecting the hopper with the bearing 8. The bearing 8 rests upon the upper endof the sleeve 6 and thereby sup-' runway has a do wmvard dip or deflection which 1S shown at 13, tor aspccihc and imports the hopper. Leading downwardly from the hopper and in communication therewith is the distributing chute 10 suitably braced by a rod 11. The chute 10 is designed to convey aggregates received by the hopper 7 outwardly to the space between the forms or shells l and 2 and thus enable quick pouring of the aggregates into the c'ir-- cular mold substantially over nearly all of the area ofthe space between the said shells, owing to the capability of the chute 10 to revolve with the hopper .7 in the distributing operation.

' The derrick B is comprised largely of a U shaped vertical standard 12, a runway 13 for the carrier let and a main brace 15 for the standard 12, there being also an adjustable brace 16 connecting the sleeve (5 with the lower end of the runway 13. The brace 16 is preferably made in sections which may be adjustably connected with each other andadjustably connected with the standard 12 through the provision of a series of openings 12 intermediate the ends of the latter. It

is desirable that the parts of the derrick be adjustable because necessarily the mold A is comprised of adjustable units to enable the same to be employed for building circular structures of different diameters. Vith this in view the runway may comprise adjustable section's shown in Figure 6 so that the upper end of the runway may be maintained in a constantrelation to the mast 8 for certain proper cooperation of the bucket dumping means with the latter under all conditions of use of the present apparatus upon forms or methods adjusted for making structures of different diameters.

Referring now to the hoisting and con- 'veying means for the bucket 18 it is notable that the runway 13 preferably comprises a double channeled beam: on which is 11101H1t the carrier 14 which has its rollers operating in the opposite channels of said beam. The runway 13 is supported in anysuitably braced manner from the upper end of the trame or standard 12 and at its lower end the portant purpose. At its upper and. lower ends the runway equipped with grooved wheels 16 and 17. The hoisting cable 30 for the bucket 18 is operated either by hand or by a suitable power operated windlass, said cable passing under a pulley at the base of the structure, it desired, as seen at 19 in Figure 41 From the pulley 19 the cable extends over the wheels 17 and 16 of the runway 13. Thence the cable 30 is led back beneath the runway 13 and passes over another grooved wheel 20 on the carrier i lat the inner side of the latter. v

From thence-the cable leads downwardly and is connected suitably to the bail 18 of the bucket 18; The carrier 14 is equipped direction downwardly toward the mast 3, as

shown in Figure 3, but adapted to be tilted in the movement of the carrier to obtain a reverse inclination as will be later pointed out in describing the operation of the apparatus. i

The bucket 18 is provided with a dumping door 22 at its bottom, the same being normally held closed by a catch 23 mounted on a shaft 24. supported by brackets on said bucket. The shaft 24 has a handle 25 to enable operation of the catch 23 manually should this be desired at any time. Connected with the shaft 24 in a fixed manner, by means of arms 26 rigid on the shaft 24 is a trip bar 27 which at a certain point in the lateral conveying movement of the bucket is capable of engaging the mast 3.

Also carried by the bottom portion of the bucket 18 is a rest 28 of approximately U form, the same tending to maintain the bucket in suitable equilibrium as it is being loaded, and'working for this purpose in conjunction with a foot piece 29, of angular form, the latter being attached centrally of the under side of the door 22 of said bucket.

The various parts of my'apparatus have now been set forth and its operation will be quite clear as now described:

The bucket 18 is loaded as it rests upon the ground somewhat in the position shown in Figure 4: wherein the door 22 is locked closed by the catch 23, and the trip bar 27 is disposed as shown in said view. Upon application of suitable power the bucket is raisedor hoisted by the hoisting cable 30 1 and lateral turning or swinging of the bucket is preferably prevented by a small bracket 31 on the outer side thereof, which bracket embodies spaced portions between which the cable 30 operates.

When the bucket reaches a position adiacent to the lower end of the runway 13 the upper end of the bail 18" engages the carrier i l in an obvious manner and thereafter, the pull upwards upon the bucket by the cable transmits movement of the bucket to the carrier. The bail 18 at its upper end has by this time passed the lower engaging ends of the hooks 21, and when the carrier 14 passes fromthe deflected portion 13 of the runway 13 and starts to operate upon the main body of the runway it will be evident that the carrier is shifted in its inclination. so that the inclination of the hooks 21 is rendered practically as illustrated in the upper portion of Figure 3. In this manner the hooks 21 automatically engage 7 or grab the bail 18 and upon further mo vement of the carrier in a lateral direction and upwardly along the runway 13, the weight of the bucket 18 and its contents is transferred onto the carrier through the supporting action of the hooks 21. As the carrier approaches the mast 3 and conveys the bucket 18 intoa position substantially above the hopper 7, the trip bar 27 arrives .in contact with the mast 3, thereby rocking the shaft 24: and disengaging the catch 23 from the dumping door 22, whereupon the door opens and the contents of the bucket 18 are discharged into the hopper 7.

-The bucket'18 having been dumped, the elevating power on the cable 30 is relieved and the bucket is permitted to gravitate with the carrier 14 downwardly along. the runway 13 until the carrier is stopped by engaging the upper end of the brace 16. Of course, the augularity of the hooks 2 1 as at normal is restored when the carrier 14: passes onto the downwardly deflected portion 13 of the runway, and in this manner the hooks 21 release the bail 18* and permit 'of free gravitation of the bucket 18 to its position of Figure l.

The derrick B may, of course, be adjusted to occupy different positions at the upper end of the work as it progresses The hopper 7 and distributing chute 10 are freely revoluble upon the mast 3 and are adapted to enable the conveying of the plastic aggregates to practically all portions of the circular mold A, in a manner which is now quite clear from the foregoing explanation.

As the circular work progresses vertically, the derrick B and the parts 7 and 10 are raised correspondingly, and usually as the forms comprising the shells 1 and 2 are raised and reset for pouring a fresh section of the round structure being erected.

The foot piece 29 is adapted to engage the rim of the hopper 7 as the carrier 1 starts to return to its normal position conveying with it the dumped bucket. This engagement of the parts 7 and 29 causes closing of the door 22 in an obvious manner. The engagement of the) foot piece 29 with the ground, however, may be utilized to close the door.

In Figure 6 the shortening of the beam forming the runway 13 may be accom plished by removing theouter section of said beam and applying the brackets 16 which support the wheel 16 to the main lower part 7 i of the beam. The bolts 16* will be readily.

sliding movement one within the other for extension purposes. Of course, any suitable means might be employed. to render the braces and 16 adjustable but the parts will preferably be made "in sections with seriesof openings to receive adjustable .fastening devices.

The form: of the designed that, notwithstanding that the wheel 20 is' carried by the carrier let, the

carrier is normally so disposed that the weight of the bucket maintains it at the low. er. end. of the runway during the main vertical hoisting operation of the bucket.

The hopper 7 has a sliding door to gov ern the passage of aggregatesto the chute 10. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a concrete hoist and conveyor, in combination, a hoisting bucket, an elevated derrick including a laterally extending run way, beneath one end of which the bucket is adapted to be elevated, a carrier on the runway, a. hoisting cable connected with the bucket andextending longitudinally of the runway, said runway .en'ibodying a portion deflectedv in the direction of elevating movement of the bucket, and the hoisting cable being trained over the carrier so that the pressure transmitted to the carrier by the weight of the bucket in hoisting is prevented from moving the carrier along the runway until the bucket is lifted into co-operz tion with thecarrier to shift the latter from said deflect-ed portion onto the main portion of the runway.

2. In a concrete hoist and conveyor, in

combination, a hoisting bucket, an elevated derrlck comprising alaterally extending ((rOPQl'ZltflV-Q means between the bucket and The carrier-such that when-said co-operating means are brought into engagement, the hoisting movement of the bucket may be transmitted to the carrier to shift it from the deflected portion of the main portion of the runway, and subsequent movement of the hoisting cable will cause aconveying niovee ment of the carrier and bucket along the runway. I r

In combinatioma circular form, a central mastconnected with the form, a. derrick pivotallyconnected with the mast and adapt runway 13' has been so carried by the mast and adaptedto rotate,

a chute extending from the hopper to the form and rotatable with the hopper, the der rick comprising a runway leading laterally from above a point exterior to the form to a point approximately above the hopper, and bucket hoisting mechanism on the derrick for raising a bucket and shifting the bucket along the runway to a point of discharge above said hopper, and a bucket adapted to be hoisted andconveyed by said hoisting'mechanism on the derrick. I

4-. In combination, a circular form, a central mast connected with the form, a derrick pivotally connected with the mast and adapted. to travel around the form with the mast as a center or axis of rotation, a hop per carried by the mast and adapted to rotate, a chute extending from the hopper to the form and rotatable-with the'hopper, the derrick comprising a runway leading laterally from above a point exterior to the form to a point approximately above the hopper,

bucket hoisting mechanism on the derrick for raising a bucket and shifting the bucket along the runway to a point of discharge above said hopper, and a bucket adapted to be hoisted and conveyed by said hoisting mechanism on the derrick, the bucket embodying a dumping. doorandtripping means intermediate the said hopper and the dumping door to cause the bucket-to discharge as it reaches a point above the hopper so that the contents of the bucket are transferred to the hopper.

5. Ina concrete hoist and conveyor, in combination, a hoisting bucket, an elevated derrick comprising a laterally extending runway, hoisting means for the bucket connected with the derrick, a carrieron the runway, means-on the carrier toengage and support the bucketas an incident to certain hoisting action of the hoisting means, the hoisting means; being adapted to operate the carrier along the runway, means to automatically elfect dumping of the bucket coniprisiug a must, a hopper thereon. and a trip on the bucket to engage the mast and dump the bucket when it reaches a point above the hopper. i

6. In a concrete hoist and conveyor, in combination, a hoisting bucket, an elevated derrick comprising a laterally extending runway, hoisting means for the bucket connected with the derrick, a carrier on the runway, means on the carrier to engage and support the bucket as anincident to certain hoisting action of the hoisting means, the hoisting means being adapted tOop'erate the -carrier along the runway, means to automatically eifect dumping of the bucket comprising a mast, a hopper thereon, a trip on the bucket toengage the mast and dump'the bucket when it reaches a point above the hopper, and a chute leading from the hop per. 7. In a concrete hoist and conveyor, in combination, a hoisting bucket, an elevated derrick comprising a laterally extendingrunway, hoisting means for the bucket connected with the derrick, a carrier on the runway, means on the carrierto engage and supi port the bucket as an incident to certain hoisting action of the hoisting means, the

hoisting means being adapted to operate the carrier along the runway, means to auto-- matically effect dumping of the bucket, the last means embodying a mast, and a trip on the bucket to engage the mast and dulnp the bucket when it reaches a point above the hopper; a hopper, a chute leading from the hopper, and means movably supporting the hopper and chute upon the mast.

8. In apparatus such as described. the

combination of a hopper, a distributing chute leading therefrom, a derrick, a bucket, a carrier operating in a lateral direction on the derrick, and means to hoist the bucket, cause it to be shifted onto the carrier, and then conveyed by the carrier ,to a point for dumping into the hopper, the means for .it to be shifted onto the carrier, and then conveyed by the carrier to a point for dumping into the hopper, comprising hook devices on the carrier and means to cause the carrier to move to shift the hook devices from positions in which they do not support the bucket to positions whereinthey connect with or carry the bucket so it may be transported by the carrier.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, combined with means rotatively supporting the derrick hopper and chute.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, combined with means supporting the hopper and chute and coacting with the bucket to cause it to dump its contents into the hopper.

12. In apparatus such as described, the combination of a hopper, a distributing chute leading therefrom, a derrick, a bucket, a carrier operating in a lateral direction on the derrick. means to hoist the bucket. cause it to be shifted onto the carrier, and then conveyed by the carrier to a point for dumping into the hopper, a mast supporting the hopper to revolve, and a trip on the bucket to engage the mast and cause dumping of the bucket into the hopper.

13. In combination, an overhead runway,

a bucket, a carrierron the runway, and having bucket engaging devices, hoisting means for tllGbLlOliQt to raise it and cause it to engage: and move the carrier on the runway, the runway being so constructedas to effect a movement of the carrier to cause engagement of its bucket engaging means with the bucket so the load of the latter and its contents is transferred from the hoisting means to the carrier.

1 L. Incombination, an overhead runway, a bucket, a carrier on the runway, and having bucket I engaging devices, a hoisting means for the bucket to raise it and cause it to engage and move the carrier on the runway, the runway being so deflected as to effeet a tilting action of the carrier to cause engagement of its bucket engaging means with the bucket so the load of the latter and its contents is transferred from the hoisting means to the carrier.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a derrick, a runway thereon, a carrier on the runway, hoisting tackle on the derrick, a bucket to be elevated by said tackle, and conveyed off by the carrier, and means cooperating between thecarrier and bucket to automatically transfer the bucket to the carrier incident to operation of the tackle in hoisting, and thereafter to carry the bucket as the carrier moves on the runway.

16. In combination, an elevated runway leading in a lateral direction, supporting means therefore, hoisting'means comprising a bucket, a carrier on the runway, the hoisting means including tackle connected with the carrier and derrick to additionally elevate the bucket, the runway involving means effective by action of the hoisting means whereby to shift the carrier during its initial movement, and means to transfer the load of the bucket and its contents onto the carrier as an incident to said initial shifting movement of the carrier.

. 17. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting derrick, a central mast to which the derrick is connected, a revolving hopper and chute on the 18. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, an overhead runway disposed in an approximately horizontal position and formed with a deflected portion at one end, a carrier adapted to operate upon said runway normally positioned on the deflected portion thereof, and equinped with cable guiding 1neans,.a bucket to be hoisted verti- Cally :to the end of the runway having the deflected 'portion and then conveyed alongthe runway, and cable hoisting means extending lengthwise of the runway and trained over the cable guldlngmeans on the carrier, said cable means being connected 10 with the bucket so as to initially lift the latter until it reaches the carrier, the arrangement of the cable guiding means on the carthe latter off of the deflected portion of the runway onto the main body of the latter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HERAULT A. TRESTER. 

